Automobiles are self-propelled motor vehicles that can be used to transport people and goods. These cars are primarily gasoline-powered and designed to carry a variety of passengers, as well as a limited amount of cargo.

The modern automobile emerged in the late 1800s. Its basic design was created by the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens, who invented an internal combustion engine. In 1884, Edward Butler built the first commercial three-wheeler that was driven by a horizontal single-cylinder gasoline engine.

Early automobiles were powered by steam engines, which had limited range. These engines were inconvenient to start. They also gave off noxious emissions. However, by the end of the nineteenth century, steam engine technology had advanced to a point where they could produce very high speeds.

After World War II, the automobile industry in the United States and Europe exploded. By the early 1980s, the automobile industry had become one of the world’s largest industries. Today, automobiles are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and designs.

While most definitions of automobiles specify that they have four wheels and can carry between two and eight passengers, there are a number of other types of vehicles that are considered to be automobiles. Examples of these include motorcycles, buses, and trucks.

Motorcycles, on the other hand, are a type of self-propelled vehicle that can carry a limited number of passengers. Because motorcycles only have two wheels, they have a smaller footprint than cars. Also, they do not require a driver’s license, making them easier for a layman to maintain.

Motorcycles are not necessarily automobiles, but a lot of people use the term to mean them. Regardless, the laws for motorcycles are similar to those of automobiles. If a motorcycle is found to be violating traffic laws, the person riding it may receive a traffic ticket.

Depending on the size of the car, it may be able to carry a very large number of passengers. Motorcycles are generally smaller and are less expensive to maintain.

During the first half of the twentieth century, the American automobile industry dominated the market. By the 1920s, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler were the “Big Three” manufacturers. Automotive manufacturing in Japan began to boom as well.

Although automobiles were originally invented in Germany, the industry grew to be global by the 1980s. A large number of manufacturers produced electric and hybrid automobiles. Currently, most modern automobiles are driven by water-cooled piston-type internal-combustion engines.

Some of the technical features of an automobile include a steering system, suspension, an ignition, a muffler, and a seat belt. Other characteristics of an automobile include its engine, fuel injection, and its drive train.

Unlike a motorcycle, an automobile has an internal-combustion engine that is recharged by a battery. It is possible to purchase hybrids that operate only in an electric mode. Likewise, some gasoline-electric hybrids have both a gasoline and an electric engine. Electric vehicles are capable of very high fuel economy, although their range is limited.